Accountant - Maternity Cover FTC

Hasbro European Services provides various services to Hasbro business units in Europe and the Middle East and Africa.

We are seeking a Financial Accountant to assume responsibility for the accounting within the Shared Service Centre (SSC) for the G&A, Benelux & Ireland sales markets, G&A, Benelux and Ireland entities, European cost entity, and the large sales entity under the supervision of the Financial Accounting Manager (FAM). This includes accounting for US GAAP, statutory accounting, external tax, and VAT reporting for these regions. The role involves maintaining internal controls to ensure all accounting entries are made in accordance with US GAAP, Corporate Accounting Policies, account analysis and reconciliation, and completion of financial reporting templates and online submission.

To be the first point of contact for all accounting tasks associated with G&A, Benelux and Ireland sales market, G&A Benelux and Ireland trading entity, and European cost entity.

Specific Responsibilities/Tasks:

Financial Accounting:

• Hold overall accountability to produce monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements for entities under responsibility in line with US GAAP and corporate policies and procedures.
• Assume responsibility for all areas of Hasbro European Trading Company.

G&A, Benelux, and Ireland Market:

• Prepare final balance sheet reconciliation and monthly package files identifying points for discussion and resolution prior to meeting with Financial Accounting Controller & Local Market Finance.
• Challenge final draft templates (such as sales allowances, A&P, pre-payments, and accruals) for review by Local Market Finance before submission; pass any required adjustments.
• Chair mid-month meetings with Local Market Finance to discuss business updates and requirements, pending issues to be resolved which impact the financials, internal control updates, and manage the relationships between the SSC and Local Market Finance.
• Review journals prepared by the Local Market Finance ensuring the calculation is accurate and supporting documentation is of auditable quality.

Financial Accounting Work:

• Prepare and review balance sheet and P&L accounts periodically to ensure appropriate valuation and resolve any queries.
• Review all clearing, accrual & prepayment accounts to ensure that accounts used are regularly reviewed and cleared.
• Prepare appropriate reconciliation, account analysis, and general ledger entries to enable the monthly reporting cycle to be completed on time and with accuracy.
• Review and approve all journal entries prepared by Assistant Financial Accountant.

Month-End Closing Process:

• Be the point of contact for Local Market Finance for markets under responsibility.
• Prepare monthly management P&L, perform limited analytical review in conjunction with the local market finance.
• Prepare monthly management package files identifying points for discussion and resolution prior to meeting with Financial Accounting Manager and Local Market Finance.
• Ensure online monthly financial submissions are in line with US GAAP and corporate policies and procedures.

Balance Sheet Reviews:

• Proactively lead the balance sheet review meetings and the mid-month meetings with local Finance teams and work to successfully action follow-up points.

Payroll:

• Ensure payroll process runs by liaising with the HR department.
• Ensure all payroll accounting is accurate.
• Ensure all payroll reporting requirements are met.

VAT:

• For registrations in Germany and Ireland, prepare accurate submission of monthly and bi-monthly VAT returns, monthly Intrastat & EC Sales list.
• Investigate any VAT issues uncovered in the preparation of the submissions.
• Liaise directly with the VAT team to assist with any changes in VAT legislation.
• Be the first point of contact for Germany & Ireland VAT for other departments in the business.

Taxes:

• Review US GAAP Tax schedules at year-end for Germany.
• Assist the external tax advisors with the preparation of the tax return for G&A, Benelux, and Ireland.
• Ensure you seek approval from the Corporate Tax department and are able to explain the variances from year-end submission actual Corporate Income Tax return for G&A, Benelux, and Ireland.
• Assist the International Tax team with the preparation of the transfer pricing documentation for G&A, Benelux, and Ireland entities.

Statutory Accounting:

• Review Statutory accounts for Austria, Benelux & Ireland prepared by third-party accounting.
• Ensure all statutory reports are prepared in accordance with local GAAP, reconciliation between Local GAAP and US GAAP agreed to year-end reporting trial balance.

Audit & SOX:

• Assume responsibility for year-end audit for Germany, Benelux, and Ireland entities and German, Benelux, and Ireland market for the US statutory GAAP audit. Liaise directly with auditors to provide necessary supporting documentation and resolve queries.
• Work with the Internal audit department for G&A, Benelux, and Ireland entities under responsibility.
• Assume responsibility for the SOX controls for the Financial Accounting Area, including implementation of remediation plans, in line with agreed timetables.
• Take responsibility in ensuring all necessary Corporate Business processes are followed.
• Take on additional responsibilities in assisting other SSC markets with the external statutory audit.
• Actively manage the Audit central process for German, Benelux, and Ireland entities from start to handover to the local audit team.

General:

• Ensure the appropriate skills and competencies are demonstrated and provide support and challenge to SSPs to consistently achieve that level.
• Actively seek and support new methods of working, driving efficiencies in streamlining processes.

Other:

• Ad hoc tasks as directed by Financial Accounting Manager and Financial Accounting Controller.

Qualifications Required:

• Qualified – ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or similar.

Experience Required:

• FMCG post-qualified experience in a similar position.
• Previous experience of financial reporting for a US listed company.
• Held Balance Sheet/P&L responsibility for an entire business unit.
• Previous experience of preparing statutory accounts and tax returns for lead market.
• Experience of VAT reporting & return preparation.
• Multinational FMCG type experience.
• Knowledge of cross-border VAT issues.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Fluent English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of Finance ERP.
• Good knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong accounting technical skills.
• US GAAP knowledge.
• Excellent analytical skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Flexible and proactive approach to task execution and delivery.
• Ability to work unsupervised, under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.
• SAP Knowledge.
• A second European language (French, German, Italian, Spanish).

Our Values

• Jump in muddy puddles: Be adventurous and brave in driving our business results while never forgetting we are a company built on play. 
• Knowing is half the battle: Be grounded by a strong command of the facts and work with integrity, resilience and a sense of purpose. Help Hasbro become better while we perform well
• Contribute to the community chest: Support our communities to leave the world, our planet and society a better place for generations to come
• Don’t split the party: Act as one team that supports a unified vision, debate, decide and commit to a plan of action and pursue it boldly.
• Friendship is magic: Create diverse and inclusive communities where all feel welcome and unified in the shared joy of storytelling and play
• Be legendary: practice excellence, improve on our legacy, create awesomeness

We are an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for satisfactory performance in this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the duties, responsibilities, or requirements of the position.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you are selected to move forward in our application process and need to request an accommodation, please let your recruiter or coordinator know.